Photographer's Note

Taken at the Lion & Rhino Reserve at Muldersdrift, close to Johannesburg. We were sitting in our car, watching some other lions drinking water, when this one suddenly appeared right next to us. I had less than a second to point and shoot, and this is the result.

The photo can never capture the sheer excitement you feel when you get so close to one of these magnificent beasts!

Notice how the lion blends in with the surroundings. They are experts at camouflage!

(I know, it's a pity about the little bit of grass in front of the lion, but I couldn't ask the lion to stop while I remove it, now could I? :-)))

Simply wonderful!
Such a very "vast" hand (don't know the English word so I tryed Dutch ;o) - Sharpness/Focus are marvellous if you think about how you made the picture.
And so close, you want to touch & hug him! And all those ochre & gold tones... Don't bother about the grass, it ought to be there.

Wel, dit is nou regtig 'n bakgat foto. See the line of his head, how it draws the one's eyes up into the picture to that manificent mane. Cropping aybr just a bit below the mane and loose a bit on the right. Verloor sy elmboog, dan sien jy hoe die impak verander.

Henry, you said in your notes it was a pity about the grass in the front but I think it fits in perfectly to show how nature allows this magnificent lion to slink through his environment,camouflaged by his natural surroundings.Pefect colour blending.Great capture.